Preternatural

Preternatural

The "preternatural" or "praeternatural" is that which appears outside or beyond (Latin "") the natural. While this may include what is more commonly called the supernatural, it may also simply indicate extremity — an ordinary phenomenon taken 'beyond' the natural. One may have, for example, a preternatural desire, a preternatural curiosity, a preternaturally acute ear (sense of hearing), or even preternaturally big ears.

Often used to distinguish from the divine (supernatural) while maintaining a distinction from the purely natural. For instance, in theology, the angels, both holy and fallen, are endowed with preternatural powers. Their intellect, speed, and other characteristics are beyond human capacities but are still finite.

Other examples of preternatural creatures include fairies, werewolves, vampires, zombies, and the Chupacabra.

ee also

*Supernatural
*Paranormal
*Anomaly (disambiguation)

References

External links

* [http://www.fortea.us/english/teologicos/diferencias.htm "What is the difference between natural, preternatural and supernatural?"] "Possession and Exorcism", J.A. Fortea
* [http://www.bartleby.com/68/44/5844.html "Supernatural, preternatural, supranatural, unnatural"] "The Columbia Guide to Standard American English" at Bartleby.com


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Synonyms:
(as being aside from the ordinary course of nature, but not necessarily supernatural or miraculous), , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Preternatural — Жанр мелодический дэт метал блэк метал Годы c 1999 Страна …   Википедия

  • Preternatural — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Lo Preternatural es aquello que está afuera o más allá de lo natural. Mientras esto puede incluir lo comúnmente llamado Sobrenatural, tamblien puede simplemente denotar extremos, como un fenómeno ordinario llevado… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Preternatural — Pre ter*nat u*ral (?; 135), a. [Pref. preter + natural.] Beyond of different from what is natural, or according to the regular course of things, but not clearly supernatural or miraculous; strange; inexplicable; extraordinary; uncommon;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • preternatural — [prēt΄ər nach′ər əl] adj. [ML praeternaturalis] 1. differing from or beyond what is normally found in or expected from nature; abnormal [preternatural strength] 2. SUPERNATURAL preternaturalism n. preternaturally adv …   English World dictionary

  • preternatural — index mysterious, peculiar (curious), uncanny Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • preternatural — (adj.) 1570s, from M.L. preternaturalis (mid 13c.), from L. phrase præter naturam (præterque fatum) beyond nature (and beyond fate), from præter beyond (see PRETERITE (Cf. preterite)) + accusative of natura nature (see NATURAL (Cf. natural)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • preternatural — adj. 2 g. 1. Que não é natural. 2. Sobrenatural.   ‣ Etimologia: preter + natural …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • preternatural — *supernatural, supranatural, miraculous, superhuman Analogous words: unnatural, anomalous (see IRREGULAR): *abnormal, atypical: outstanding, remarkable, salient (see NOTICEABLE): *exceptional …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • preternatural — [adj] unusual, abnormal aberrant, anomalous, atypical, deviant, deviative, extraordinary, ghostly, inexplicable, irregular, marvelous, miraculous, mysterious, odd, peculiar, strange, superhuman, superior, supermundane, supernatural, unaccountable …   New thesaurus

  • preternatural — (Del lat. praeternaturālis). adj. Que se halla fuera del ser y estado natural de algo …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • preternatural — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ beyond what is normal or natural. DERIVATIVES preternaturally adverb. ORIGIN from Latin praeter past, beyond …   English terms dictionary

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